Superstar

Ontario's Progressive Conservatives have announced a plan Tuesday to comprehensively review the province's regional governments.
The review includes all eight regional municipalities — Halton, York, Durham, Waterloo, Niagara, Peel, Muskoka District, Oxford County, and the County of Simcoe — and their lower-tier municipalities, according to a government news release.

A total of 82 municipalities will be examined, and the province hasn't ruled out the possibility that some could be amalgamated in the future. ​

Moderator

We are probably overdue for a review of municipal governance and boundaries. What we have left (after the amalgamations of four upper-tier municipalities and the dissolution of a fifth in 1997 and 2000) was established in the 1960s and 1970s under a much more progressive PC regime.

But given the governance we've been seeing, I expect it will force an amalgamation of Brampton and Mississauga because cancelling money for Ryerson's campus, forcing an end to planning of the freight bypass, and the new Kitchener GO Train schedule weren't enough punishment for Brampton (where three of five MPPs are New Democrats) and Patrick Brown. The other option would be to dissolve Peel Region, which until lately has been the more likely action, making Brampton and Mississauga single-tier cities. Where that would leave Caledon, I don't know.

I worry that Downtown Brampton, which was finally seeing some love, would become a backwater again in an amalgamated city with some of the civic employment downsized or moved to Square One. Would Bramasauga fight for proper GO service, or care enough about getting a much-needed hospital? Despite Brown's election, Brampton finally got a more progressive city council.

If I were in charge, I'd love to redraw some municipal boundaries. I'd rethink the 2000-era amalgamations, especially Hamilton and Ottawa (where I'd carve out the old rural townships and move them to neighbouring counties), but also Chatham-Kent (split into three municipalities) and Kawartha Lakes (split into two). I'd be really interested in having a go at the Windsor area too.

Active Member

I can't help but immediately think of the word: "gerrymandering."
And the continuation of the Conservative Party in adopting Republican tactics. That's how I'm seeing all the latest moves by this government.

Senior Member

We are probably overdue for a review of municipal governance and boundaries. What we have left (after the amalgamations of four upper-tier municipalities and the dissolution of a fifth in 1997 and 2000) was established in the 1960s and 1970s under a much more progressive PC regime.

But given the governance we've been seeing, I expect it will force an amalgamation of Brampton and Mississauga because cancelling money for Ryerson's campus, forcing an end to planning of the freight bypass, and the new Kitchener GO Train schedule weren't enough punishment for Brampton (where three of five MPPs are New Democrats) and Patrick Brown. The other option would be to dissolve Peel Region, which until lately has been the more likely action, making Brampton and Mississauga single-tier cities. Where that would leave Caledon, I don't know.

I worry that Downtown Brampton, which was finally seeing some love, would become a backwater again in an amalgamated city with some of the civic employment downsized or moved to Square One. Would Bramasauga fight for proper GO service, or care enough about getting a much-needed hospital? Despite Brown's election, Brampton finally got a more progressive city council.

If I were in charge, I'd love to redraw some municipal boundaries. I'd rethink the 2000-era amalgamations, especially Hamilton and Ottawa (where I'd carve out the old rural townships and move them to neighbouring counties), but also Chatham-Kent (split into three municipalities) and Kawartha Lakes (split into two). I'd be really interested in having a go at the Windsor area too.

Senior Member

"Gerrymandering" would imply the Government would be working in the long-term interests of the PC Party. Ford's every move so far has been about Ford end stop, even if it undermines the interests of his Party. If there is funny business going on here I presume at this point it would be motivated by a) Transparent revenge or vendetta of Ford or his Family b) Support for Ford family loyalists and allies

Senior Member

"Gerrymandering" would imply the Government would be working in the long-term interests of the PC Party. Ford's every move so far has been about Ford end stop, even if it undermines the interests of his Party. If there is funny business going on here I presume at this point it would be motivated by a) Transparent revenge or vendetta of Ford or his Family b) Support for Ford family loyalists and allies

Moderator

"Gerrymandering" would imply the Government would be working in the long-term interests of the PC Party. Ford's every move so far has been about Ford end stop, even if it undermines the interests of his Party. If there is funny business going on here I presume at this point it would be motivated by a) Transparent revenge or vendetta of Ford or his Family b) Support for Ford family loyalists and allies

Senior Member

If I were in charge, I'd love to redraw some municipal boundaries. I'd rethink the 2000-era amalgamations, especially Hamilton and Ottawa (where I'd carve out the old rural townships and move them to neighbouring counties), but also Chatham-Kent (split into three municipalities) and Kawartha Lakes (split into two). I'd be really interested in having a go at the Windsor area too.

Unless my memory fails me, there was no effort by Harris et al to pretend what they were doing was the result of some sort of "governance review." They shelved the Golden Report and then imposed all the amalgamations as part of (so they said) cost-saving measures. So I don't even know the last time we had an ACTUAL governance review. In that sense, I sincerely welcome it.

A lot of those 1998-ish borders were, as you note, not drawn entirely sensibly. One can make arguments (for example) for separating the urban and rural municipalities in York and Durham. Of course, that also has implications for fundamental things like policing and transit and I'm wary that this particular government will do anything sensible. But, hey, it's possible.

P.S. I think it's unlikely this is ACTUALLY about getting at Patrick Brown but it would be kind of funny if they just kept erasing from existence every job he tried to get. Kind of.

P.PS. I think gerrymandering is kind of a red herring. They aren't changing provincial electoral districts. Unless in the sense you want to argue Toronto is "gerrymandered" because its majority suburban population holds sway over the downtown population. I'll wait to see what they come up with before assuming it's designed to ensure small-c conservative governments prevail.

Moderator

Unless my memory fails me, there was no effort by Harris et al to pretend what they were doing was the result of some sort of "governance review." They shelved the Golden Report and then imposed all the amalgamations as part of (so they said) cost-saving measures. So I don't even know the last time we had an ACTUAL governance review. In that sense, I sincerely welcome it.

A lot of those 1998-ish borders were, as you note, not drawn entirely sensibly. One can make arguments (for example) for separating the urban and rural municipalities in York and Durham. Of course, that also has implications for fundamental things like policing and transit and I'm wary that this particular government will do anything sensible. But, hey, it's possible.

Toronto, Barrie, and Orillia are single-tier cities... for now. If Simcoe County is being reviewed, the PC's may make it a region. Barrie and/or Orillia may become part of a new or existing region. Or worse, amalgamate them.